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Here’s how I replied to a post by Igumen Tryphon Parsons:

If you love yourself, that shows up in love for others. If you’re stuck on yourself, that shows up in aggression towards others. You love yourself as God’s creature… then, you love those around you, who are also God’s creatures. However, if you don’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else. I live by two simple maxims:

1. You gotta wanna

2. You gotta give a shit

All else is commentary. It all flows from love… love of life, love of God, love of Creation, love of those about you, and love for yourself. HT to Igumen Tryphon.

Here’s the progression:

God created you

God created you to love

If you love God, you’ll love yourself

If you love yourself as God’s creature, you’ll love all of his other creatures (both human and animal), for that was His intent in making you

If you love others, it manifests itself in practical actions

That practical love of others will kindle love in others

That’s how the Circle of Love operates. It isn’t sentimental, mawkish, or maudlin at all. It all starts with real Love of Self… not selfishness, not narcissism, not arrogance… a love of oneself as one loved by one’s Creator. Do think on that… what does that tell us of most “conventionally religious” people? How much real love have you seen from them? I haven’t seen a bit of it… I do daresay that I’m not alone in thinking that way…